Normal Cycle ... Or Not

Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is usually chaos for the fly.

Normal is perhaps a misleading name often used for average.

Contention, anger, and control of others is something often perceived to be normal in this world.

The majority among us here consider this world to be normal.

Sometimes we fail to realize that most people expend tremendous energy merely trying to be normal or appear to be normal in one way or another.

I tried to be normal once. I think it was the worst 2 minutes of my life.

If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.

Normal people can be very scary.

My mind decides to run when normal people sleep.

Connect with those who love and appreciate you for who you are, not someone normal, who forces you to be normal.

Dare to be different. The world is full of normal stuff.

I have tried normal, but it is not for me.

Normal is just a cycle on the washing machine.

Sooo ... Do you want a normal cycle again? Hot? Cold? Rinse and Spin? How do you want to come out? Dirty and stained? Pure heart and clean hands? Holy, without spot? (Moroni 10:32-34)

Most will likely turn out in a "normal" cycle with stains because they fail to come unto Christ and to actually know Him. Failing to receive the gospel of Christ, failing to obtain the testimony of Jesus (directly from Him to you), and failing to receive the everlasting covenant is unfortunately far too "normal" around here.

Without God in the World

“And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.” (Alma 41:11)

“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:” (Ephesians 2:12)

“For behold, the Spirit of the Lord hath already ceased to strive with their fathers; and they are without Christ and God in the world; and they are driven about as chaff before the wind.” (Mormon 5:16)

“Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.” (Alma 32:16)

Without God, life is like a doughnut. It may be good for a time, but the center is empty and without substance.

Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil. No point.

Life was never meant to be lived without God.

Without dreams we reach nothing. Without love we feel nothing. Without God we are nothing.

Life without God is a life little appreciated and less valued. It seems to be merely a number of days and years passing by without being fully utilized.

God without man is still God, but man without God is nothing.

God owes us nothing, but gives us everything.

With God life is an endless and eternal hope. Without God, life is hopeless and makes little sense.

Wealth, Riches, and Money

You aren't wealthy until you have something that money cannot buy.

The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money.

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.

Money and success don't change people. They merely amplify what is already there.

Some people are so poor all they have is money.

Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.

Wealth is not in making money but perhaps in making the man while he is making money.

The richest of men are those whose pleasures are the cheapest.

Money is like Love. It kills slowly and painfully the one who with holds it, but enlivens the other that turns it on his fellow man.

They say money doesn't bring happiness but everyone still wants to prove it for themselves.

A man's true wealth is the good he does in the world.

I'd rather walk in the rain with a man who treats me like a queen than ride in a Mercedes with a man who doesn't value me.

Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives much.

Perhaps, wealth isn't about having a lot of money, but rather about having a lot of options.

Too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they don't want to impress people that they don't like.

A little goodness and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.

Money is the slave to a wise man and the master of a fool.

Wealth consists not of having great possessions but in having few wants.

It is okay to live a life others do not understand.

No man is rich enough to buy back his past, but everyone possesses the gift to choose his present, which influences his future.

 

“And he said unto them, It is impossible for them who trust in riches, to enter into the kingdom of God; but he who forsaketh the things which are of this world, it is possible with God, that he should enter in.” (JST Luke 18:27)

“And I hold forth and deign to give unto you greater riches, even a land of promise, a land flowing with milk and honey, upon which there shall be no curse when the Lord cometh; And I will give it unto you for the land of your inheritance, if you seek it with all your hearts.” (D&C 38:18-19)

Converse with God ... Yourself!

“It is a veil and not a wall that you must pass through. You elect whether or not you pass through. There is no one, other than you, who can make the decision to go forward. It is far more frightening to persist through the veil than to remain without a view of Heaven." (The Second Comforter - Conversing with The Lord Through the Veil, Page 417)

Here is a scriptural example of this very issue:

“And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.” (Exodus 20:18-22)

I believe the people of Moses were each instructed, invited and expected to individually enter God's presence, to know Him one by one, and to witness for themselves, like is recorded in (3 Nephi 11:13-17) concerning the Nephites. They literally had the opportunity to talk with God face to face and be redeemed, but instead, they were too fearful and basically said to Moses, “You be the middle man; You be our messenger; You talk to God; You get the answers; And you, Moses, speak to us His answers and we will hear, but we are NOT willing to approach God personally, converse with Him, and see eye to eye … even though He is proving us right here and now!

How are you taking that same challenge today? Do you desire precisely the same thing as the people of Moses did and rely on a prophet/teacher, who indeed speaks with God, to act as a middle man between you and God? Are you removed from God or stand afar off? Are you too fearful to draw near unto the thick darkness to find God and speak with Him, as a man speaketh to another. Do you lack sufficient faith to boldly come before God yourself? Are you missing the fullness of the gospel, the testimony of Jesus, what true messengers are declaring, and the everlasting covenant? (D&C 76:98-106) Are you satisfied with merely the telestial world and the associated glory … again, worlds without end?!

Ultimately, each individual must choose between the "glory" of this world and the other world with Glory, which God has offered us. 

Each chooses between fear and faith, between good and evil, and between man and God Himself. You can't have both at the same time.

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24)